Governor switch



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Patente-d llflarD 1931 vLisanne GVEENOR SW'TGH .application filed March 16, 1925.

rfhis invention relates to governors especially adapted for use on automobiles although not necessarily restricted to such use. Brieliy stated, an important object of the .l invention is to provide a governor having novel and entirely automatic means by which the ignition system of an internal combustion engine is temporarily interrupted when the speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined number ot revolutions per minute, this eature of the invention being intended to provide, so tar is possible'to do so7 a measure of control over chauileurs and others who are prone to drive motor vehicles at reckless speeds.

Another and equally important object is to provide governor which may be adjusted to operate .at a predetermined speed and subsequently sealed so that tampering with the governor may be detected.

Another object is to provide a governor in which the arrangement and construction of parts thereof is such that the terminals of the circuit wires connected thereto are protected to avoid a short circuit.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. i

ln the accompanyingdrawing forming a part et this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, f

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the improved governor,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a housing embodied in the invention,

ligure 3 is a perspective ot a rotatable and endwise movable collar,

Figure at is a perspective oli a driven collar and gear embodied in the invention,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the supporting means for a pair of contacts embodied in the invention.

lnthe drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a tubular housing which may be sup ported in a vertical position as illustrated by a bracket 6 of any design. It is believed to be clear that the bracket may be attachedin Sera?. 1Q o. 262,234.

any suitable manner to a support, such as an engine block 7. However, it is here noted that the invention is not restricted to use in connection with automobile engines, but is capable of general application.

ln carrying out the invention a plurality of governor arms 8' and 9 are pivotally connected as indicated at l0 and the arms 8 are ei;- tended beyond the pivots l0 and areprovided with balls ll. Figure l clearly illustrates that the upper portions of the`arms 8 are pivotallyv connected to the apertured ears of a driven collar lll mounted on an attaching spindle 16. rllie spindle 1G is extended into and has rigid connection with a bushing 18 secured in any suitable manner in the upper portion of the tubular housingand forming a closure therefore. @t course, the collar lll is operatively connected to the source of power to be governed and by way of example l have shown a spur gear 19 rigidly connected to the collar ld and driven by a gear 20. A driving shaft 22 may be connected to the gear 20 and entends from asuitable part et the power unit. For example, if the governor 75 is used on an internal combustion engine the driving shaft E22 may have connection with the cam shaft or the crank shaft. Also, it is possible to drive the shaft 22 from the propeller shaft oit' the motor vehicle, all of thisl being entirely within the skill of one acquainted with this art. It will be observed that the upper portion of the spindle 1G is enlarged to Vform a retaining shoulder by which' the collar 14: and the spur gear 19 are held against titi upward movement on the spindle.

rlhe lower portions of the arms 9 are pivotally connected to the apertured ears of a rotatable and cndwise movable collar 2G, the

no collar being freely mounted on the housing ror rotation and vertical movement thereon under the influence of the arms 8 and 9 and the balls' l1.

Figure l admirably illustrates that a more or less triangular cam 28 is provided with an active face in the path of travel of and adapte'd to be Aengaged by the vertically movable -and rotatable collar 26 when the speed of the power unit under control exceeds a prel0@ determined `number of revolutions per minute.

The cam 28 is extended through a longitudinal slot 29 in the tubular housing' and is connected at the lower portion thereof to a leaf spring support 30. The leaf spring support 30 is extended downwardly and. inwardly from the cam 28 and is provided at the lower portion thereof with an attaching sleeve or annulus 32 rotatably mounted on a supporting and adjusting screw 34. In carrying out the invention the supporting and adjusting screw is threaded through a bushing 36 secured in the lower portion of the housing so that it is a simple matter vto adjust the cam 28 to cause the same to be engaged by the collar 26 at a predetermined speed. Y

The cam 28 is shown to be provided with an inwardly extending contact 4:0 having a depending terminal portion adapted for engagement with a vertical contact 42 carried by the head 44C of the. supporting and adjusting screw 34. It might 'be observed that the members 28 and 4A are of a suitable insulating material to avoid the possibility of short circuiting the current conducting wires 46. One of the current conducting wires 46 is shown to be connected to the contact Li0 by a binding screw while the other current conducting wire is shown to be connected to the contact 42 by a second binding screw.

'Y Thus it is, that the contact 40 is urged into pressure engagement with the contact 42 by the attaching leaf spring 30 so that until the speed of the power unit exceeds a predetermined number of revolutions an uninterrupted flow of current is provided for.

Attention is invited to the fact that the interruption of the circuit when a predetermined speed has been attained is accompanied by a very slight movement of thev circuit wires and thus the connection of the circuit wires with the binding posts thereof is not periodically strained. Furthermore, the

current conducting wires are shown to have the terminal portions thereof enclosed within and protected by the tubular housing. The bushing 36 in the lowerp'ortion of the housing is provided with one or more openings for the reception of the current conducting wires.

The triangular cam 28 is shown to be provided at the upper portion of the active face thereof with a laterally projecting shoulder' or stop element 54 directly in the path of travel of and adapted to be engaged by the collar 26 to limit ascent of the collar vand thereby prevent the same from moving beyond the cam. Should the collar 26 be allowed to'move beyond the cam 28 the device would not operate more than once without attention.

In setting the governor for operation at a predetermined speed or number of revolutions per minute by the power unit, the cam 28 is positioned at the level of the proper graduation at one side of the slot 29. Subsequent to this, a locking stem 60 is extended through the head 62 of the screw 34 and through an opening in the bushing 86. Figure 1 illustrates that a sealing wire 64 is extended through aligned openings in the head 62 and the stem 20 and the ends of the wire may be joined by a seal 66. This arrangement makes it impossible to change the adjustment of the governor without evidence that would make detection possible.

With reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that a governor constructed in accordance with this invention may be easily set for operation at any speed within a wide range and when once set will function in a reliable manner to break the circuit only when a proper speed is exceeded. However, the moment the speed is decreased the circuit is completed to resume operation of the power unit.

It is to be understood that the form of invention herewith shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is Claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, a housing provided with -a longitudinal slot, a screw mounted for longitudinal movement within one end of said housing, a spring supported by the screw, a movable cam carried by the spring and projecting through the slot, a contact member extending laterally fromA the cam and movable with said cam, a stop on the cam, a second Contact member mounted on the screw and normally engaged by the movable contact, a member slidable on the housing and engageable with the cam for moving the lirst mentioned Contact out of engagement with the second contact against the pressure of the spring, the slidable member contact with the stop for limiting the longitudinal movement of said member, adjustment of the screw moving the cam and the contacts simultaneously for varying the distance of travel of the slidable member.

In testimony whereof afx mv signature.

HARRY o. KRAMME. 

